[FM16] I don't know where I'm going, only I know where I've been

[Northernpilgrim]

It's been a really tough start to my time at Argyle, and losing the keeper to injury in the first match definitely didn't help

but the gap to the playoffs is still only 8, so if we can turn it round, there is still time

[Northernpilgrim]

There have been a few arrivals in the January window as I attempt to reverse Argyle's slide down the table

and here's the squad as it looks at the close of the January window

[Northernpilgrim]

I'm going to return to the narrow 4-4-2 diamond for February's games, but with a slight tweak to the roles. I'm going to be using an Advanced Forward (A) and Target Man (S) up front. All other roles remain the same.

[Northernpilgrim]

A couple of pretty decent prospects in this year's youth intake

[Northernpilgrim]

Just for you Nobby, European football at Stoke next season

[Northernpilgrim]

Disappointing start to February, but we roared back in style

and we're finally moving in the right direction

[Nobby_McDonald]

Just for you Nobby, European football at Stoke next season

Excellent.

You didn't manage to do a Leicester then.

[Northernpilgrim]

Very nearly a perfect March

which has seen us close right up on the playoffs

[Northernpilgrim]

We started April very well, but struggled at the end of the month

although a place in the playoffs is still in our own hands

[Northernpilgrim]

Not a good way to end the league season

but we held on to 6th and a spot in the playoffs

[Northernpilgrim]

Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be, we're going to Wembley

[Northernpilgrim]

Fleetwood Town stood between us and a place in the Championship, but could we do it? YES!!

[video=youtube_share;rFY-GboS98E]

[Northernpilgrim]

Confirmation that after 11 years away, Argyle are back in the Championship where they belong

[Northernpilgrim]

We had a pretty good set of results in preseason

[Northernpilgrim]

I added real quality to the squad in the summer

[Northernpilgrim]

It's been a pretty decent start to life in the Championship

and we're 1 point off a playoff place

[Nobby_McDonald]

Well done going up.

[Northernpilgrim]

Well done going up.

Thanks Nobby

[Northernpilgrim]

An unbeaten month in the league, and a mauling from Man Utd in the Cup, but a decent September

and we're solidly in midtable

[Northernpilgrim]

In mid October I'm offered (and accept) an offer to stay with Plymouth Argyle

[Northernpilgrim]

October was a pretty damn good month, though I didn't get Manager of the Month due to having to holiday to get past a crash dump

and astonishingly, we're IN THE PLAYOFF PLACES

I don't expect us to remain there all season, and surpassing 50 points for the season to secure survival remains the target for now, but I'm certainly optimistic we can survive in the Championship.

[Northernpilgrim]

November was a tough month results wise, but we actually played quite well

and as a result we've fallen out of the playoffs

[Northernpilgrim]

December results were not much better

but if we can arrest the slide, we can still have a good season

[Northernpilgrim]

Our results picked up in January quite considerably, mainly thanks to 5 goals in 2 games from Ganz, which won us 6 points

and we're back in the playoffs again

[Northernpilgrim]

I will do a transfer window update later as I'm hoping to make a deadline day signing to add to the business I've already done in January, and this year's deadline is February 1st. I'm hoping to get it done either tonight or tomorrow, time permitting.

[Northernpilgrim]

I got the January Manager of the Month award

[Northernpilgrim]

And managed to complete the deals I wanted in the January window

[Northernpilgrim]

We had a very good month in February, although I'm still having issues with multiple crashes so progress is very slow

and suddenly we're in an automatic promotion spot

[GylfiAsCharged]

Enjoyed reading your career so far, great progress! Interesting to see you take such a step back to manage Plymouth, but looks like you might be back in the big time pretty soon.

[Northernpilgrim]

Enjoyed reading your career so far, great progress! Interesting to see you take such a step back to manage Plymouth, but looks like you might be back in the big time pretty soon.

Thanks GylfiAsCharged. It's been a fun career, but frustrating with the repeated crashes. It's a safe bet that either way, I'll be leaving after this season, hopefully with the Argyle in the Premier League.

[Northernpilgrim]

This year's youth intake, with Todd and Wilshere offered contracts

[Lenzar]

Let's just hope that Wilshere lad doesn't spend 95% of his career in hospital.

[Northernpilgrim]

6 League games and 16 points made for a very successful March, which could have been perfect as we blew a 3-1 lead in the last match of a busy month

and it looks like we're involved in a three-way title battle

and I am Manager of the Month for March

[Northernpilgrim]

Let's just hope that Wilshere lad doesn't spend 95% of his career in hospital.

Obviously I want to see him and Plymouth Argyle do as well as possible, but after this season it won't be my problem

[Northernpilgrim]

We're not doing badly for a side predicted in preseason to end up 21st. The preseason favourites Watford looked nailed on for the 'underachiever' award.

[Northernpilgrim]

Let's just hope that Wilshere lad doesn't spend 95% of his career in hospital.

I think you've jinxed him! On 2nd April he pulled his hamstring and will miss the rest of the season

[Nobby_McDonald]

Must be Jack's brother.

[Northernpilgrim]

We just about held it together in April

but we probably won't be winning the league

WHO CARES, WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!

[Northernpilgrim]

We came up short in a dramatic final day

but if you'd offered me second place and promotion in August, I'd have bitten your hand off, so I'm delighted with the final table

[Northernpilgrim]

To summarise the final day:

Birmingham drew with Wycombe, securing safety for the hosts and denying the visitors a playoff spot.

Bradford were relegated with a home defeat, when a point would have seen them survive

Brentford beat us to climb into the playoffs and deny us even a chance of the title

Fulham clinch the title with a win over mid-table Burnley

Hull dropped out of the playoffs with a home defeat to Ipswich

[Northernpilgrim]

The Premier League season has now concluded, and no clubs are without a manager, and none have their manager listed as anything less than 'stable'. I will wait until May 31 and will resign if nothing becomes available, hoping the 'managerial merry-go-round' will throw up something interesting.

[Northernpilgrim]

[Northernpilgrim]

I'm now into mid-August, and have not even had an interview despite expressing interest in several jobs (not at big clubs). I think that needs looking at for FM17. How can I gain promotion to the Premier League on two separate occasions, yet sides who only just beat relegation (Cardiff and Swansea), plus sides from Serie B and Liga Adelante, 'laugh off' my interest in taking over? IRL, Eddie Howe got Bournemouth promoted to the Premier League, has survived narrowly, yet is linked with big jobs all the time. I think it's too easy in FM to get a job in a higher division at the bottom end (why did I get the Hartlepool job when I was laughed off for Vanarama National jobs?), and too hard to get a job at the top when you get promoted. My reputation is 2 star, which given the number of promotions I've had and the fact I've reached the PL TWICE, seems very low.

[Northernpilgrim]

They say in football, 'never go back', but on 18th October, I've been offered, and accepted, the job at one of my former clubs. I am the new manager of

and they've demanded instant promotion, which might be tough

[Northernpilgrim]

I'm hoping we can make the playoffs this season, and the board will allow me to carry on and get promotion next season. I will post squad details in my next update, but it might be a couple of days.

[deltablue]

Good to see you back there. You gave up really easily last time.

[LEEMOD]

Why did you resign from Plymouth? You need to stay and build something and keep fighting for each point!

[Northernpilgrim]

Good to see you back there. You gave up really easily last time.

Thanks deltablue. I'm happy to be back, and I've got £10m to make a challenge for promotion happen. It's a challenge, but one that's really, really exciting.

[Northernpilgrim]

Why did you resign from Plymouth? You need to stay and build something and keep fighting for each point!

Simple. 2 promotions in 2 seasons, and one year left on my contract. If we got off to a bad start and couldn't turn it round, I'd have been sacked. Self preservation.

[Northernpilgrim]

Here is the squad I've inherited, and I am already decided there will be major changes